Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-04-09
sWhy, they are only the cbecla which I


have cashed for you, are they o."
"How many checks have you cashed for
me in the last three weeks2 Think"
"Two, unless No, two"
Look at the dates. They have all teen
presented during the last three week. There
is no doubt as to that fact, at Least Five
out of the seven, Dick, are forgeries. l 1 nave
been robbed"
"lmpossible!' said Dick.
S should have said yesterday. To-day
I can only rcp>at, I lave been robbed"
Dick showed a face full of astonishment.
"Who can lave robbed you2' he asked.
THAT, you see, is what we have to find
out; and that, by George. I will find out-I
will find out, Dickl' He rat led his keys in
his pocket 1t is supposed that only persons
of great resolution rattle their keys hon
they resolve. But l doubt this. ''If I do
nothing for the next twelve months I will
find out. 1 have been robbed of sixty pounds
sixty poundsl That won't break me- It
isn't the money so much as the villa:ny which
troubles me-; villainy about the oftice-vi!-
lainy at my very elbow. I'll find out who
did 1t, Dick aud hen we will SEQ what the
law can do. Some men when they are
r~obbed-oh, I know it goes on every day
sit down and hear excuses, and forgive the
villai They let the wife or the daughter
come to them and cry, and then let the fell
low so. That is not my sort, Dick / will
catch this fellow whoever he isl will track
him down. He had better have robbed a
bank-which is bound never to forgive
than have robbed me-
"How-how" asked Dick, clearing his
throat again. "How do you propose to find
himf'
AS for the amount, it isn't much-sixty
pounds. Tho interest Of sixty pounds Mt
five and a half per cent, which l can get if
anybody can, is three pounds six shillings a
year: An estate in perpetui,y =, worth three
pounds six shillings yearly, has been stolen
from lne-from you, too, Dick, because l
suppose" Here he stopped to heave a sigh.
The common lot is hard, but hardest of all
to a man who is Shaking money. 81 suppose
shall some day have to leave things behind
me, like everybody else. three pounds SIX
shillings a year! Think how long it takes to
save that. a little perpetual spring, so to
speak. who has done it! you say. That is
just exactly what we have to find out; and,
by George, Dick, Ill never r~est-never-and
I'll never let YOU rest, either-until | havo
found out the man,
Two men there are who particularly re-
sent being robbed. The one is the man born
to great possessions. He is always obliged
to trust people, and he is tho natural prey
of the crafty, and he feels personally in
suited by n breach of trust because it seems
to accuse him Of being credulous, soft,
ignorant of the world, and easily taken in.
The other is tho man who spends his life in
amassing small gains, and knows the value
of money, what it rerresents, how much
labor, self-rcstraint, and the foregoing Of
this worlds pleasures for tho sake of getting
it, and very often how many tricks, and
what crookedncss in his pilgrimage. Mr..
Murridge was the second Of these men. His
son watched him curiously and furtivoly,
rs he continued wrathfully threatening ven-
Seance and relentless pursuit.
"Wcll, sir" Dick asked, when the storm
subsidized. 'as yet you have not told me any
particulars"
"Im coming to them. ! don't know very
much: but | nm sure it will prove enough
for n beginning. Many II great robbery has
been discovered with fewer facts than
these. Now listen and get them into your
head. A clever detective would very soon
get n clew out of what ] hav learned
He proceeded to relate briefly what we al
ready know.
"Have you got them all!' lie asked. "Sit
down first and make a note of the dates.
They may be important. Remember, an ell.
derby man with a foreign accent and the
foretinger Of the right hand gone. ~ girl.
A young fellow with light hair, n pot hat, n
rcd necktic and a staggering mir"
ut is not much to remember" said Dick.
But why do you want me to remember
them so particularly"
because l want You to find the thief,
Dick"
The son started and lifted his head.
What: he cried.
IL want you to find the villain, Dick" Mr..
Murridge repeated.
NJ to find himl'
Won shall show me the stuff you are
made of. You'll never make n genealogist
worth your salt. It's poor work spending
every evening over u piano or out in the
streets and all day drawing girls heads on a
blotting pal. l don't believe you are with
out brains, Dick. And here's a chance for
you to show what you can do"
Yes" said Dick, thougltfully.
besides, l don't want to make a fuss
about the matter. Let lis work quietly,
without the police and tho bank and all. |
don't want to arouse suspicion anywhere"
~ see,' said Dick. You want thc-the
man who did it not to know that yon have
found it out already"
Yes. 1t shall be your work. 1t will be
an occupation for you Get to the bottom
of this case. Take u week ovcrit. Do no.h-
ing else. Think of nothing else. Lord! |
should make n beautiful detective. I've
often thought that I shoull have liked the
work. But there $ no money in it."
Dick received these commands with pro.
found aInazenlent.
Go to the police, if you like. But | would
rather you kept it entirely in your owl
hands. Anyhow, I don't care how you find
it out. Here, taSe the checks: you may wnnt
them and the check book. That may be II Sc.
full. Don't let the book lie about, though i,
would be OF no Use to anybody. because i've
taken the precaution to stop tho numbers.
And rs for the sixth of the stolen check -
the one which is not yet presentcd-I'm in
great hopes, my boy-particularly il We
keep quiet and nothing is %sail-that the fel
low will have the impudence to hand ii
across the counter to-day or tomorrow
when that joker will lie pleased to find him
self asked to step into the managers room
while the police are called in To escort HIN
before the lord mayor. And u, for my sig
nature, I've altered it. And it will be a good
long time before anybody gets the chance OF
getting my check book again"
II will do my best said his son. AT
present, l confess"
Mind, Dick. when you've got anything
that looks like u clcw follow it up-foIlow it
up. Never mind wlio it j." He was think
ing, l am Assumed to say. Of his private sec
rotary. Follow up any cIcw which offers,
wherever il may lead you. II you find rc;.-
son to suspect-even slight reason to suspect
anybody-anybody, | say-fni out where
that person has lately spent his time and